| They say the ball is round and that anything | | | | fact they had beaten the host earlier in the |
| can happen in football. Such is the | | | | group stages. |
| unpredictability of football that it adds an | | | | |
| element of surprise to this game. It is akin | | | | |
| to David vs Goliath. Idealists and | | | | |
| romanticists will always root for the | | | | The most dramatic tale of underdog in |
| underdog. That is the reason why Rocky films | | | | football must be the way Liverpool captured |
| are so popular. Here we are dealing with | | | | their fifth European crown this year. They |
| reality and not fiction. It is in this arena | | | | were in transition as a new manager came on |
| where the underdog can flourish and triumph. | | | | board and their star player Michael Owen |
| Think about it. We have so many improbable | | | | departed for Real Madrid. Liverpool also had |
| cases of the impossible becoming possible. | | | | to coped with injuries throughout most of |
| Way back in 1992, Denmark did not even | | | | their season. Liverpool barely scrapped |
| qualify for the European championship. They | | | | through the group stages by the skin of the |
| got in only after Yugoslavia was disqualified | | | | teeth. They had to beat Olympiakos by 2 goals |
| due to political instability. Denmark knew of | | | | to qualify for the next round. Things got off |
| their entry only 10 days before the | | | | to a bad start with Olympiakos drawing first |
| Championship began. Denmark quickly recalled | | | | blood. Through sheer guts and determination |
| their team of players from their holidays. | | | | Liverpool scored 3 goals through the |
| Denmark struggled in the early games in the | | | | efforts of Pongolle, Mellor and Gerrard and |
| group stages losing to Swede and drawing 0-0 | | | | forced their way into the next round. |
| with England before getting their act | | | | |
| together and beating France 2-1 in the last | | | | |
| group match. | | | | |
| | | | In the round of 16, Liverpool was paired |
| | | | with Bayer Levekusen, conquerors of Real |
| | | | Madrid and Roma in the group stages. |
| The Danes then beat hot favourites Dutch | | | | Liverpool slaughtered Leverkusen with an |
| team in the semis by penalties after the | | | | aggregate score of 6-2 despite pundits |
| deadlock at 2-2 could not be settled. The | | | | writing them off. Liverpool then met another |
| Danes astounded the football world again by | | | | formidable foe in Juventus who had earlier |
| beating the hapless Germans 2-0 in the | | | | overcome Real Madrid in the round of 16. |
| finals. What an incredible feat! | | | | Liverpool surprised Juventus with an early |
| | | | attack and won 2-1 in the first leg. In the |
| | | | return leg, Juventus and liverpool would play |
| | | | to a goalless draw thus securing liverpool's |
| The extraordinary tale of the underdog would | | | | entry into the semis. |
| continue with the emergence of Greece in the | | | | |
| 2004 European Championship. Greece had a | | | | |
| fairy tale start by beating host Portugal | | | | |
| 2-1. Greece would then hold another hot | | | | They would meet archrival chelsea who had |
| favourite Spain to a 1-1 draw. Unexpectedly, | | | | already beaten them 3 times in the same |
| they suddenly lost to the Russians 2-1 in | | | | season. Chelsea had earlier beaten another |
| the final group game. In the end, much | | | | hot favourite for the title Barcelona to |
| fancied Spain got kicked out in the group | | | | reach the semis. The first leg saw the |
| stages. Greece and Portugal went on to the | | | | goalless draw on Chelsea's home ground.In the |
| next round. Greece would meet France in the | | | | return leg, Liverpool again adopted a |
| quarter finals and make France their next | | | | lightning attack from the start which saw a |
| victim. Greece shut up shop after seizing | | | | Garcia goal. After that, Liverpool closed all |
| their chance to score. In the semi finals, | | | | gates and Chelsea could not breach the |
| Greece met Czech Republic. Czech republic had | | | | Liverpool defence. Thus it was on to the |
| boosted their credentials by beating both | | | | finals where liverpool would meet 6 time |
| Holland and Germany in the group stages and | | | | champions AC Milan. |
| winning a convincing 3-0 victory over the | | | | |
| Danes in their quarters. Here, Greece again | | | | |
| turn the tables by beating Czech Republic in | | | | |
| extra time 1-0. Greece would then continue to | | | | They went down 3-0 by half time and yet |
| defy the odds in the finals against host | | | | managed to resurrect themselves to level the |
| Portugal. Despite huge crowd support and | | | | score in the 2nd half. The Liverpool keeper |
| their home grown stars, Portugal lost to | | | | denied two superb strikes by Milan to send |
| Greece 1-0. Obviously, the host hadn't learnt | | | | the match into a penalty shootout where |
| their lesson. Also, Greece was buoyed by the | | | | Liverpool prevailed and won it 2-3. |